CERDAA

French Cerdagne, high valley in the Pyrenees east of Andorra, partly in Spain (Gerona provincia) and partly in France (Pyrnes-Orientales and Arige dpartements). It is drained by the upper Sgre River. Within the French portion is the Spanish enclave of Llivia (q.v.). The town of Llivia, the Julia Livia, or Libica, of the Romans, was the capital of the Cerdaa until the 12th century; the subsequent seat of the counts of Cerdaa was Hix near Puigcerd. In 1276 the area became subject to the counts of Roselln (Roussillon). In 1659 Spain ceded 33 Cerdaa communities to France, retaining Llivia. Because of its high elevation, the region is cool most of the year and quite cold in winter. Zinc mining dates from ancient times.